EMG's ?

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I know its all opinion so I won't ask if they are "good" or "better" than other pickups. I'm thinking about picking up a guitar that comes stock with emg's. I like the tone I hear from some players using EMG's but I've always used passives. My question is, will EMG's require vastly different amp settings to get tone similiar to what I get with my passives or is it just a matter of gain/level being higher with active pickups. School me on EMG's or active pickups in general.
 
Compared to high gain passives, I find EMGs a little thinner....tighter might be another way to put it. If you're using the EMGs for metal, this is usually a step in the right direction...if you're looking to mimic the tone of your passives more effectively, it will take some re-eqing IMO.
 
I have one guitar with EMG's my other pickups include, Suhr Aldrich, BKP Rebel Yell, BKP Mules, Tonezone and JB

I like the EMG 81 and 85 a lot although I installed them with the 18v mod in a Zakk Epi LP, which is supposed to make it sound better. I don't find the pickups sterile as they say. For metal they are amazing. They sound pretty good clean for such a high output pup. They are not the best for lower gain settings, but sound pretty good as well...

They serve their purpose for me at least... high gain, they screaaaam!
 
Passive pickups have more 'mud' to them, a lot more body it seems. This of course does vary from pickup to pickup and guitar to guitar, but EMG 81 is an essentially mud-less pickup. They sound great on recording and I love them whenever someone else plays them. I can watch someone play an EMG guitar and I'll shit my pants at how good it sounds, but if I pick up an EMG guitar I usually end up putting it right back down. Guess they're just not for me? :dunno:

You may or may not have to re-eq your amps, but you will definitely have to adjust to the feel of them, I guess is what I'm getting at. I do like the 85 in the bridge position a little more than the 81.
 
You might do, but the difference in EQ won't be huge, even then, shouldn't be a big deal.

If you're picking up a guitar with EMGS I seriously reccomend 2 things.

18v mod, did it to both my EMG guitars and I really prefer the tone.

If picking up an 81/85 set, when it comes to changing the strings, swap the pickups around (they have quick connect cables) alot of players these days, myself included prefer an 85 in the bridge. Josh Rand from Stone Sour sounds wicked with a 60 in the bridge.
 
I have been preferring the 85 in the bridge more lately over the 81 as well.

But, I like the 81 at 18 volts, but the 85 at 9 volts.
 
I've used EMG's for many years. While I don't think there the be end all or anything like that I do think they have a cool sound. Some like them some hate them. I've played a lot of guitars with passives and I like them as well..
1. When rolling off the volume the guitar will not want to clean up as nice as passives.
2. The attack is tighter, cleaner and has less bass. The pickup has more perfect sound, is what I mean by cleaner. Almost recorded is another way to put it.
3. I've found that your amp settings do change to fit the guitar. Most likely add a little bass and less gain.
4. Less feel and dynamics.
5. Rewiring the whole guitar is a huge bitch.

Just some things I've found and in my opinion. I personally really like EMG's. I really like the 81 or 60 in the neck and 85 in the bridge. 81 was always to thin and bright for me in the bridge.
 
Thanks. I always assumed the EMG's would have more bass and less clarity so it's interesting to hear that it's really the opposite. The guitar I'm thinking about is

http://www.garykramerguitars.com/Kramertorium.html

Like the look and hopefully the feel if it feels like the old Kramers I have played in the past. Cool guitar, especially at this price point. I run a midi rig. I was hoping not too have to have a whole set of patches just for one guitar for live use but really wouldn't be that big of a deal if I had to do that. I assume that 9V is standard. How do you do the 18V mod? Thanks
 
threadkiller":1rsyp2o0 said:
Thanks. I always assumed the EMG's would have more bass and less clarity so it's interesting to hear that it's really the opposite. The guitar I'm thinking about is

http://www.garykramerguitars.com/Kramertorium.html

Like the look and hopefully the feel if it feels like the old Kramers I have played in the past. Cool guitar, especially at this price point. I run a midi rig. I was hoping not too have to have a whole set of patches just for one guitar for live use but really wouldn't be that big of a deal if I had to do that. I assume that 9V is standard. How do you do the 18V mod? Thanks
Click to expand...

The 18v mod is easy you have to wire two 9V batteries together in series... Just have a tech do it if you are afraid. Anyway there are lots of instructions on the net.

With EMG's I finde that they tend to make a bad guitar sound good and a great guitar sound the same. The sound almoast comes exclusively with the pickups, that maybe a good thing or a bad thing...
 
I've used EMG S and SA single coils in a few of my Strats for years now. I can bounce back and forth between the Strats and Les Pauls loaded with passives and not have to do any major tweaking to my amp.

The EMG humbuckers might be a different animal though, and I have no real personal experience with them.......

Just my $0.02.....
 
threadkiller":28vmlqo6 said:
Thanks. I always assumed the EMG's would have more bass and less clarity so it's interesting to hear that it's really the opposite. The guitar I'm thinking about is

http://www.garykramerguitars.com/Kramertorium.html

Like the look and hopefully the feel if it feels like the old Kramers I have played in the past. Cool guitar, especially at this price point. I run a midi rig. I was hoping not too have to have a whole set of patches just for one guitar for live use but really wouldn't be that big of a deal if I had to do that. I assume that 9V is standard. How do you do the 18V mod? Thanks
Click to expand...
A lot of people compare EMG's to low output humbuckers (Which are known to be clearer, and less bass heavy) ran through a pedal booster. (Which is basically what an EMG is).

The 81 is very light on bass, and mostly upper mids and treble. It almost reminds me of the same effect a Boss SD-1 has. The 85 is bassier and less trebly, but still aggressive.

But, both are very hi-fi, clear, and more compressed than passives.
 
I like them but as said earlier the 18v mod is something to look into for sure. I have a dinky that I use 81s, 83, and a single coil in the middle. I forget the model (113 or something)

Here is a link I that plays and shows how to do the mod. (kinda annoying commentary)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmiVT_pUDh4
 
If you try the EMG's at 9v and don't like their lack of low end on power chords and riffs, then the 18v mod probably won't be for you as it will ease up on the compression which brings the low end back down. 18v may sound better on leads though. Try it and find out before you decide 9 vs 18.
 
I'm into more of the brutal metal shit than most fellas on this board, and I can't stand EMGs. They are so lifeless and, well, simply boring. You can get high output from passive pickups and get more character. I regret selling my BKP Warpig Ibby S Series every single day... those sound like monsters compared to the flat and lifeless EMGs.

Then again, it's all personal preference, and I seem to be the odd duck about this around here.
 
Active EMG's have a real "polished" sound to them.
I dont really like them.....but I also don't not like them.
I would defintely not want it as my only pickup option.

My friend was over last weekend and he brought a guitar loaded with EMG 81/85. I have the same guitar loaded with PASSIVE EMG HZ's. (OMG!)
We had a mini ampfest and used the two guitars only.

What I found was the active EMGS were noisier(!) and more prone to feedback. Not much, but it was there. They were tighter sounding, but also a little sterile. Very polished sounding. I would actually like to hear the 85 in the bridge instead.

The passive EMG's weren't as tight sounding, but not to the point of being muddy at all. Still clear and articulate. A bit less output than the 81, but it works to it's advantage IMO.
They were also dead silent, without a instance of hum, hiss or feedback, (unless coaxed)
The passives were also warmer and more natural sounding.
(These EMG passives are about 10 years old, not the crap from the past 4-5 years)

I will like to eventually get some actives, but I won't be replacing the passives when I get them.
 
I have emg's in most of my guitars and to be honest,I don't like them in mahogany guitars,I'd rather have MC/solutions,but in alder body guitars they sound great,however they are kinda thin,solo's etc need some beef,they are bright but not brittle. Overall I still dig the 81/85 setup as well,with the after burner.
 
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